Steering apparatus for vehicle

Abstract

A steering apparatus for a vehicle includes a movable column member supporting a steering wheel at a rear end of the movable column member and rotatably supported about a column swinging point provided at a front part of the movable column member relative to a vehicle body, a fixing bracket supported at an upper portion of the fixing bracket to the vehicle body and including first and second retaining portions that face each other and support the movable column member therebetween, first and second pressing mechanisms facing each other so as to press and support the movable column in a slidable manner, a first pivot axis disposed at a lower side of the fixing bracket, a second pivot axis disposed at a lower side of the movable column member, and a drive mechanism driven so as to adjust a distance between the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
 a movable column member supporting a steering wheel at a rear end of the movable column member and rotatably supported about a column swinging point provided at a front part of the movable column member to swing vertically relative to a vehicle body; 
 a fixing bracket including first and second retaining portions that face each other and extend in a downward direction of the vehicle, the first and second retaining portions supporting the movable column member therebetween, the fixing bracket fixed at an upper portion of the fixing bracket to the vehicle body; 
 first and second pressing mechanisms facing each other so as to press and support the movable column member in a slidable manner, the first pressing mechanism disposed between the first retaining portion and the movable column member, the second pressing mechanism disposed between the second retaining portion and the movable column member; 
 a first pivot axis disposed at a lower side of the fixing bracket; 
 a second pivot axis disposed at a lower side of the movable column member; 
 a drive mechanism driven so as to adjust a distance between the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis; and 
 wherein the column swinging point is positioned forward of the fixing bracket so that the fixing bracket is positioned closer than the column swinging point to the steering wheel. 
 
     
     
       2. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second pressing mechanisms includes a slide member sliding against the movable column member and a spring member biasing the slide member toward the movable column member, and each of the first and second pressing mechanisms presses and supports the movable column member in the slidable manner by means of a biasing force of the spring member from both sides in a vehicle width direction toward an axial center of the movable column member. 
     
     
       3. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 2 , wherein the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis, and the drive mechanism are disposed at the lower side of the movable column member and vertically parallel to the axis of the movable column member. 
     
     
       4. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis, and the drive mechanism are disposed at the lower side of the movable column member and vertically parallel to an axis of the movable column member. 
     
     
       5. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the movable column member includes oppositely located first and second ends, the first end being positioned farther from the fixing bracket than the second end, and wherein the column swinging point is positioned at the first end of the movable column member. 
     
     
       6. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pressing mechanism and the second pressing mechanism are configured to permit vertical sliding movement of the movable column member relative to the first pressing mechanism and the second pressing mechanism when the movable column member moves vertically relative to the vehicle body. 
     
     
       7. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 1 , the first pressing mechanism possessing a first slide member and the second pressing mechanism possessing a second slide member, wherein the first retaining portion is configured to restrain vertical movement of the first slide member and the second retaining portion is configured to restrain vertical movement of the second slide member when the movable column member moves vertically relative to the vehicle body. 
     
     
       8. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 1 , the first pressing mechanism possessing a slide member and a spring member biasing the slide member into contact with the movable column member. 
     
     
       9. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 1 , wherein the first pressing mechanism is configured to apply a biasing force toward the movable column member. 
     
     
       10. A steering apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:
 a first column member supporting a steering wheel at a rear end of the first column member; 
 a second column member disposed coaxially with the first column member and rotatably supported about a column swinging point provided at a front part of the second column member to swing vertically relative to a vehicle body; 
 a fixing bracket including first and second retaining portions that face each other and extend in a downward direction of the vehicle, the first and second retaining portions supporting the second column member therebetween, the fixing bracket fixed at an upper portion of the fixing bracket to the vehicle body; 
 first and second pressing mechanisms facing each other so as to press and support the second column member in a slidable manner, the first pressing mechanism disposed between the first retaining portion and the second column member, the second pressing mechanism disposed between the second retaining portion and the second column member; 
 a first pivot axis disposed at a lower side of the fixing bracket; 
 a second pivot axis disposed at a lower side of the second column member; 
 a drive mechanism driven so as to adjust a distance between the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis; and 
 wherein the column swinging point is positioned forward of the fixing bracket so that the fixing bracket is positioned closer than the column swinging point to the steering wheel. 
 
     
     
       11. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein each of the first and second pressing mechanisms includes a slide member sliding against the second column member and a spring member biasing the slide member toward the second column member, and each of the first and second pressing mechanisms presses and supports the second column member in the slidable manner by means of a biasing force of the spring member from both sides in a vehicle width direction toward an axial center of the second column member. 
     
     
       12. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 11 , wherein the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis, and the drive mechanism are disposed at the lower side of the second column member and vertically parallel to the axis of the second column member. 
     
     
       13. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the first pivot axis, the second pivot axis, and the drive mechanism are disposed at the lower side of the second column member and vertically parallel to an axis of the second column member. 
     
     
       14. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the second column member includes oppositely located first and second ends, the first end being positioned farther from the fixing bracket than the second end, and wherein the column swinging point is positioned at the first end of the second column member. 
     
     
       15. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the first pressing mechanism and the second pressing mechanism are configured to permit vertical sliding movement of the second column member relative to the first pressing mechanism and the second pressing mechanism when the second column member moves vertically relative to the vehicle body. 
     
     
       16. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 10 , the first pressing mechanism possessing a first slide member and the second pressing mechanism possessing a second slide member, wherein the first retaining portion is configured to restrain vertical movement of the first slide member and the second retaining portion is configured to restrain vertical movement of the second slide member when the second column member moves vertically relative to the vehicle body. 
     
     
       17. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 10 , the first pressing mechanism possessing a slide member and a spring member biasing the slide member into contact with the second column member. 
     
     
       18. The steering apparatus for the vehicle according to  claim 10 , wherein the first pressing mechanism is configured to apply a biasing force toward the second column member.